Support structure for supporting articles on perforated sheet material



1960 MODREY 2,965,874

H. J. SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES ON PERFORATED SHEET MATERIAL Filed March 6, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HENRY J. MODREY BYMMW ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1960 H. J. MODREY 2,965,874 SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES Filed March 6, 1959 ON PERFORATED SHEET MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 !Illll|"////////////////////////JHNIl I FIG.3

HENRY J. MODREY ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1960 H. J. MODREY 2,965,874

SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES 0N PERFORATED SHEET MATERIAL Filed March 6, 1959 Sheets-Sheet 5 O O O O O O O} OO'O O O O O 0 O O O O 0 0' FIG. I8

Law I07 FIG. [5 'IIliW/IA W INVENTOR.

HENRY J" MODREY BY Hm aw KM ATTORNEYS 2,965,874 Ice Patented Dec. 20, 1960 SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING ARTI- CLES ON PERFORATED SHEET MATERIAL Henry J. Modrey, Eagle Drive, Stamford, Conn.

Filed Mar. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 797,643

26 claims. (Cl. 339-176) The present invention relates to a detachable support structure for supporting articles on apertured or perforated material.

The term perforated material as herein used refers to sheets and boards of any configuration and also to apertured blocks. The material may be cut from fibrous material such as hardboard, plywood, or the material may be metal, plastic, canvas, etc. The material may also be comparatively soft fibrous material such as material composed of fairly loosely compressed wood, asbestos and other fibres. Material of this kind is used for in stance for acoustic tiles. The apertures may be disposed in any distribution, but rows are generally provided. Utilization of the invention merely requires that there are at least two appropriately spaced apertures.

There are known several support structures of the general kind above referred to, which terminate at one end in a hook portion which is inserted in a selected one of the apertures of the sheet material. Such an attachment of the support structure is inherently rather unstable and the supports are especially likely to become dislodged when the support is slightly lifted as often occurs when an article is removed from the support. Furthermore, the insertion of a hook portion in an aperture and the thickness necessary to lend sufficient strength to the hook require considerable clearance on the side of the board or sheet opposite the side of the insertion which entails that spacers or furring strips must be interposed between the sheet material proper and the wall on which it is mounted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved article support structure which can be rapidly and positively locked to any selected two apertures of sheet material and which can be equally rapidly detached from the sheet material. Such positive locking affords over support structures as heretofore known the advantage that the support structure and the articles supported by it will not become accidentally dislodged and that the support structures may be used on panels other than vertically mounted panels.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved article supporting structure which does not require, either for insertion or removal, an appreciable clearance behind the sheet material. As a result, the aforementioned spacers or furring strips are no longer required, but the perforated sheet material can be mounted fiat upon a supporting wall for instance, by simply nailing or screwing it to a wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide as supporting panel for the article supporting structure according to the invention, a panel which is solid on one face side and apertured on the other. This affords the advantage that as an outer wall or partition wall the article supporting wall can be installed as a unitary structure and in a single operation thereby materially reducing the costs of installation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved support structure of the general kind above referred to, which is attachable to perforated sheet material by simply fitting a mounting component of the structure in any two selected aperturesan operation which does not require any tools or mechanical skilland which will lock itself automatically and positively to the sheet material when the assembly of the structure is completed by the insertion of an article supporting locking component in the mounting component. The removal of the mounted support structure from the sheet material is equally simple. Withdrawal of the article supporting component will unlock the mounting component and with it the entire support structure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved support structure which, due to its design, will automatically absorb variations in the thickness of the perforated sheet material on which it is mounted. Such variations in thickness can be rarely avoided in practice, especially with non-metallic perforated sheet material. The inherent tolerance compensation by the support structure of the invention also affords the advantage that the tolerances to be observed in the manufacture of the support structure itself need to be less strict, thereby materially reducing the manufacturing costs of the support structures.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved support structure which permits the use of a nearly infinite variety of designs and shapes of the article supporting locking component of the structure. This component may be designed to maintain a fixed angular position relative to the sheet material or to swivel relative thereto. It may be made of flat or rounded stock. The locking component as such may a1- so constitute an article in itself or part of an article.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved support structure which is releasably but positively attachable to perforated sheet material and which is suitable as a mounting for containers, panels, lighting fixture bases, displays, fabrics, etc. The aforementioned and numerous other items may be equally well suspended from an overhead structure such as a ceiling, supported on a vertical wall, or rest upon a hori' zontal base. In each installation, the respective item is locked to the supporting surface or released therefrom by the assembly or disassembly of one or several support structures according to the invention.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved support structure suitable for attaching articles to pliable material, such as canvas, or securing a pliable material to a straight or curved backmg.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a support structure designed for mounting electrical receptacles or outlets on a panel whereby components of the support structure serve as current carrying elements for connecting the outside wires to the contact elements of the receptacle or outlet. Such an arrangement affords the advantage that a receptacle can be attached and connected by simply inserting the locking component of the support structure into the mounting component thereof and can be equally conveniently detached and disconnected by withdrawal of the locking component from the mounting component.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved perforated panel or wall to one side of which are adhered one or several conductive strips perforated in registry with the perforations of the panel or wall. Such panel or wall constitutes in effect a pre-wired panel the strips on which may carry power, light, or communication currents. The current carrying strips may' be tapped by receptacles attached to the front or opposite side of the panel in any selected positions by means of support structures according to the invention thus providing for rapid, inexpensive and convenient installations. The pre-wired panel of the invention also affords the advantage that no current carrying parts project from the front side of the panel, or are readily accessible from the front side thereby avoiding the danger of accidental contact with current carrying parts.

' It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved support structure which when mounted is substantially shock and vibration proof and can be removed only by means of tools so that it lends itself to use on vehicles or on aircraft. It is still a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved support structure which can be inexpensively manufactured by typical mass production operations such as punching or stamping.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims constituting part of the application.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my cpending application Ser. No. 733,282 filed May 6, 1958.

The basic concept of the present invention resides in providing a support structure which is releasably but positively attachable to perforated sheet material by forcing a flexible member such as a springy strip or clip from a normally flexed or bent configuration into a less bent configuration, generally a substantially straight configuration and by utilizing the resulting elongation of the spatial distance between two locking elements on said member to move the two elements from positions just fitting through two selected apertures in the apertured material into positions protruding beyond the perimeter of the apertures thus locking the member to the material. The flexible member is forced from the initial flexed condition into the less flexed or straight condition by a locking member which has a curvature different from that of the clip, the term curvature being intended to encompass a straight configuration of the locking member. This member may also constitute a carrier for articles to be supported, the article itself, or a part thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, several preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible mounting memher or clip according to the invention and companion Figures 1a to 1c shown fragmentary perspective views of locking members or slides designed to coact with the clip of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the components of Figs. 1, 1a and 1b attached to a perforated board.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of a support structure of the kind shown in Figs. 1 and 1a assembled on a perforated wall.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of two support structures of the kind shown in Figs. 1 and 1b assembled on a wall apertured on one face side, but solid on the other.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of Fig. 4 showing the perforated board in detail.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a partly assembled support structure having a locking member suitable as a pliers holder.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a locking member in the form of a tool holder.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a locking member in the form of a ceiling slide.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a channelled member including in its walls locking members for securing the channelled member to the mounting member of a support structure according to the invention.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a support Str assembled on a perforated metal strip nailed to a solid wall.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an assembled support structure, the locking member of which is positively retained within the clip.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a support structure for fastening canvas or other pliable material on a backing, the clip of the structure being captive on the canvas.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the support structure of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective partly exploded view of a wire terminal connector pad for an electrical receptacle or outlet designed to be mounted and connected by means of support structures according to the invention.

Fig. 15 is a section taken on line 15-15 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a section taken on line 1616 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the casing housing the contact elements of the receptacle and designed to be secured and connected to the pad of Fig. 14 by means of the support structure, the casing being shown separated from the pad.

Fig. 17a is a perspective view of the casing showing the same attached to the pad.

Fig. 18 shows a perforated insulation board with conductive strips adhered to one side thereof and designed for attaching and connecting electrical receptacles thereto by means of the support structures according to the invention, and

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary section through the board of Fig. 18 and showing the clip of a support structure fitted to the board.

The perforated sheet material herein referred to should be visualized as a perforated sheet or board 1 made of any suitable material such as hardboard, plywood, plastic or metal. There are freely available in the market perforated sheets or boards with a multitude of perforations. The apertures are generally of reasonably uniform diameter and disposed in rows of uniform spacing.

Turning now to Figs. 1, 1a to la, 2 and 3 which show support structures or fixtures according to the invention, sheet or board 1 is mounted on a wall 2. However, in contrast to the supports of the prior art, the support or fixture of the invention does not require an appreciable space between sheet '1 and wall 2 and as a result sheet or board 1 can be mounted fiat on wall 2 for instance, by simply nailing or screwing the perforated sheet to the wall, a fastening screw 9 being shown. The inherent flexibility of the sheet material intermediate the points at which it is nailed or screwed to its supporting wall provides ample space for mounting a fixture according to the invention.

Each support structure according to the invention comprises a mounting member or clip 10 and a locking member or slide or fixture 11. These reference numerals are applied throughout the specification as general designation for reasons of simplicity and clarity, even though the illustrated clips and fixtures or slides vary in design. The mounting clip according to Fig. 1 comprises a flexible strip 12 made of suitable spring material such as metal for instance by stamping, and bent about a trans verse or cross line to have the slight curvature clearly shown in Fig. 1. From the concave side of the spring extends at or near each end thereof a locking element 13. This locking element is shown in the form of a shoe having a leg portion 14 and a terminal portion 15 extending substantially parallel to the plane of strip 12. Each leg portion has preferably a rounded cross section the radius of which corresponds to the radius of the aperture in which strip 12 is to be fitted. The concave sides of the two leg portions 14 face in opposite direction. The longitudinal spacing of the shoes and the dimensions thereof are so selected that the shoes includ ing the lateral terminal portions 15 will fit through any two apertures of the sheet material. It is generally advantageous to provide a spacing of the shoes such that a slight increase in the curvature of strip 12 is required to fit the shoes through the apertures. In this connection it may be mentioned that the two apertures may be disposed horizontally, perpendicularly or diagonally. The support according to the invention permits full freedom in that respect. The apertures need not be adjacent, but several apertures may be spanned by strip 12 depending upon the length thereof. All that is necessary for mounting the support structure of the invention is that there are two apertures through a sheet which fit the spacing of shoes 13.

Mounting strip 12 has on its side opposite to the depending shoes retaining means for receiving and retaining the locking member or slide 11 of the fixture. The retaining means on the strip may take a variety of designs and shapes, but it is essential that they are capable of retaining the slide on the strip against the spring action of the strip and that they are extended longitudinal of the strip so that the slide can and will exert a pres sure upon the strip at least at two longitudinally spaced points. It has been found generally preferable to provide two longitudinally spaced retaining members and such are shown in the figures.

According to Fig. 1, two pairs of guide tracks 21 and 22 are provided, each formed by bending ears laterally extending from the strip material. The guide tracks 21 and 22 are open and they are sometimes hereinafter referred to as open guide tracks, but they are, nevertheless, capable of retaining a slide in a fixed relationship in reference to the clip as is clearly shown, for instance, in Fig. 2.

The locking member 11 is shown as having a locking portion generally designated by a guide numeral 17 which efiects the locking action as will be presently described and is continued in a portion 18 which may have any configuration suitable for its specific purpose, such as supporting an article. A variety of configurations of portion 18 are shown by way of example and hereinafter described.

As has been previously explained, the locking member or slide, and more specifically the portion 17 thereof, must effect an increase of the spacing between shoes 13 by flattening strip 12, to perform its locking action. Generally speaking, slide portion 17 must have a curvature different from that of strip 12 in its initial and substantially relaxed condition. More specifically, portion 17 is curved about a transverse or cross line in the opposite sense as strip 12. Such curvature or bending of portion 17 affords specific advantages which will be pointed out hereinafter. Figs. 1a, lb and indicate the curvature of portion 17 which is obtained by a slight kink indicated at 17c, 17b and 17a.

Locking portion 17 may be made of round stock, but more often it is made of flattened or profiled stock to retain the article supporting portion 18 in a fixed angular position relative to the mounting strip 12 and to sheet 1.

Fig. 1a shows a locking portion 17a which has a substantially T-shaped cross section, which is so arranged that the arms 117a of the T-cross section are at a right angle with the portion 18a.

Fig. 1b shows a locking portion 17b in the form of a fiat strip continued in an equally flat strip piece portion 18b.

Fig. 1c shows a locking portion 170 made of round stock from which lateral protrusions 1170 are pressed out.

As is evident, each of the illustrated configurations of the locking portion 17-and many other configurations are possilbe and within the scope of the inventionprevents a turning of the locking member 11 in reference to the mounting clip 10 when it is inserted in the retaining means thereof.

The portion 18 of the locking member 11 is the portion thereof which may be used for supporting an item on the wall or other part to which the fixture is secured by means of the mounting strip. Support portion 18 may have the configuration shown in Fig. 2, in which mounting portion 18a is suitable for suspending an article and mounting portion 18b is suitable as a bracket,

tion 17 of the slide in the retaining means of the clip will force strip 12 from its initial curved position into a less curved or fiat position. The flattening of the strip causes a corresponding elongation of the spatial distance between the locking shoes whereby lateral shoe portions 15 are forced into a position underlying the rim of apertures '19 and 20 and the curved leg portion 14 into a position hugging the corresponding wall portions defining apertures 19 and 20. The mounting strip is now safely and positively blocked in apertures 19 and 2d and will remain so locked until the locking slide 11 is withdrawn. At the same time the locking slide is frictionally retained in the retaining means by the recoil pressure of springy strip 12.

To release the fixture all that is necessary is to withdraw the locking slide against the back pressure of the clip. Neither the locking operation nor the release op eration of the fixture requires any tools or mechanical skill on the part of the user.

Fig. 3 shows a support structure according to the invention assembled on a panel 1. The fixture is shown as comprising the mounting strip of Fig. 1 and the locking slide of Fig. 1a, but the subsequent comments apply to any of the mounting strips and locking slides shown herein or otherwise encompassing the concept of the invention.

As has been previously explained, the mounting slide has a curvature opposite in reference to the initial curvature of the mounting clip, or in other words, the two components face each other with a convex curvature. Accordingly, the locking slide 17a when inserted will cause the aforedescribed axial elongation of the mounting clip forcing shoes 15 to underlie the rims of holes 19 and 20 to effect the locking action and will finally exert a strong downward pressure upon the clip at 17a. Due to the springiness of the mounting clip, the two ends of the mounting clip will move slightly upward to the extent permitted by the curvature of locking portion 17a.

As is apparent, a curved or kinked locking portion such as shown in Fig. 3, the locking portion will automatically compensate for variations in the thickness of the panel. As mentioned before, rather appreciable variatlons in the thickness of commercial panel boards are unavoidable. The automatic compensation feature also permits wider tolerances in the manufacture of the mounting clip and finally, the use of a curved or kinked locking slide increases the strength of the frictional grip with which the locking slide is retained within the mounting c ip.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the mounting of two fixtures of the kind previously described on a supporting wall. The essential feature of Fig. 4 is that in contrast to the prevlously described perforated panels, the support wall of Fig. 4 is perforated on its face side 50, but is solid on its opposite face side 51. The wall of Fig. 4 may be a solid wall as is shown but it may also be a laminate.

In the event the wall board of Fig. 4 is made of a material such as hardboard, space must be provided at the inner end of apertures 52 to accommodate the shoes 15 in the locking position thereof. Such space is provided, as can clearly be seen in Fig. 5, by providing an annular extension 52a at the base of each aperture into which the shoes 15 can protrude. However, if the material of the wall board is comparatively soft such as boards or tiles made of asbestos fiber or composite wood fiber as used for instance for so-called acoustic ceiling tiles, annular enlargements 52a need not to be provided, but the shoes will automatically penetrate into the soft material when the mounting clip is flattened thereby protruding beyond the perimeter of the apertures in the same manner as has been previously described and thus in effect underlying the rim of the apertures.

Fig. 6 shows a fixture the locking slide of which is of the kind shown in Fig. 10, that is, both ends of the looking ortion 170 are continued to form part of a specific structure. Such closed end design affords the advantage of avoiding the need for welded or otherwise joined fixtures. The inwardly curved extensions 180 of Fig. 6 may be used as a holder for pliers and similar tools.

Fig. 7 shows a locking slide which comprises a shoe plate 55 from which extend lateral arms 56 to form a tool grip. The arms and the shoe plate are preferably formed of one piece of sheet metal by a suitable machining operation. The shoe plate 55 may be straight, but preferably it is slightly curved opposite to the curvature of the mounting clip. The tool grip of Fig. 7 is designed to be mounted on a support wall with the shoe portion thereof in vertical position. To prevent the tool grip from being forced out its mounting clip by the downward pull of a possibly rather heavy tool inserted in it, the portion 55a of the shoe which is the bottom portion when the clip is mounted is preferably somewhat shorter than the upper shoe portion 5512. When the slide of Fig. 7 is inserted by an up-and-down movement, shoe portion 55b being first inserted in the upper pair of guide tracks and the lower shoe portion being inserted thereafter, the slide comes to rest with the notched-out portions of 55a abutting against the lower pair of guide tracks which assists in supporting any downward load applied to the slide.

Fig. 8 shows a flat locking slide of the kind shown in Fig. 2b. The portion 18b of the slide forms a hook which may be used as a ceiling hook to suspend items from a ceiling or also a Wall.

Fig. 9 shows a channeled member 63 made of sheet metal of suitably thin gauge. The locking slides de signed to coact with a mounting clip 19 are formed by tongues 64 pressed out of the material of the channeled member. It is advantageous to cut tongues in all the walls of the member to have full freedom in mounting the same and then press out those tongues that are actually needed. The two tongues in the front wall are shown to be pressed out.

Channelled members such as shown in Fig. 9 may be used for instance as guides for drawers.

Fig. 10 shows an arrangement in which the sheet material takes the form of a strip 1 which is nailed or otherwise flatly secured to a supporting wall 1a. The mounting of the fixture is evident from the previous description. It suffices to state that any of the exemplified designs may be used. This arrangement may be used for the support of book shelves and the like.

Fig. 11 shows an arrangement in which the locking slide is positively and not only frictionally retained within guide tracks 21 and 22 of the mounting clip. To this end, the locking portion 17g is made of springy material and longitudinally slotted to form two branches. Each branch is recessed at 80 and the tip of the locking portion is preferably rounded to facilitate insertion thereof. When the slide is fully pushed home as previously described, recesses 30 will engage guide tracks 21 whereby the slide becomes positively locked to the mounting clip. In contrast to the previously described arrangements in which the locking slide can be pulled out against the frictional force by which it is retained, the locking slide of Fig. 11 can be removed only by pressing together the two branches of the locking portion against the spring action. As is apparent, the fixture of Fig. 11 is shock and vibration proof and cannot be accidentally dislodged even by a forceful pull. The design is thus especially suitable for use in locations subjected to vibrations such as vehicles or aircraft.

Figs. 12 and 13 show an arrangement for mounting canvas or other pliable material 81 to a panel or backing 82. The backing is formed with two apertures 83 which serve to receive the shoes of the mounting clip 10. In contrast to the previously described arrange ments, the receiving apertures are here shown rectangular and the shoes of the mounting clip are shaped correspondingly. The mounting clip is secured to canvas 81 by means of a rivet 84 and its shoes 13' extend through appropriate cut-outs 85 in the canvas. The mounting slide 10 is similar in principle to the mounting slides previously described, but captive 0n the slide by means of lateral ears 86. The slide has a center hole 87 which will receive the head of rivet 84 with an audible click when the slide is pushed fully home. The operation of the fixture is evident from the previous description.

Captive fixtures as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may be used, for instance, for securing protective aircraft covers, for the erection of tents, etc. The holes 33 in the backing are preferably closed by appropriate cemented 0r riveted flexible material such as rubber or plastic underlying the metal and closing the apertures therein, but due to its flexibility leaving sufiicient space for the shoes.

Figs. 14 through 17a exemplify the use of insulated perforated panels as an electrical wiring system by utilizing the fixtures to mount an electric receptacle or outlet to one side of the panel and to connect it electrically to conductors on the rear or other side of the panel.

As can best be seen in Figs. 14 through 16, contact pads 90 made of insulation material are mounted in selected positions on the rear side of the panel. The pad is formed on its side which will face the perforated wall 1 when the pad is mounted, with two fairly shallow circular recesses 91 and 92, the spacing of which corresponds to the spacing of three apertures in perforated wall 1. In each of the recesses, a contact washer 93 with attached crimping terminal 95 is fitted. The outside wires 94 are suitably secured to terminal 95, before or after insertion in the pad. Each of the contact washers has a sleeve-shaped short protrusion 93a which are fitted in the corresponding apertures of sheet 1. In order to fasten the pad and the contact washers securely to the panel, a screw 96 is extended through a hole 97 in registry with the panel aperture between the two apertures used for the contact rings. The pad is located on the back side of panel 1, that is, on the side opposite to that on which the receptacle is to be located. Screw 96 is inserted from the front side of panel 1 and secured in position by a washer 98 and a nut 99. A pointed Washer is preferably interposed between the head of screw 96 and panel 1 in a manner such the points of the washer point toward the two wired holes in the panel. The contact sleeves 93a will prevent turning of the pad in reference to panel 1 and washer 1% provides a visual indication from the front of the wall 1 which ones of the apertures thereof are wired. Mounting clips 10 are now fitted into the appropriate apertures of wall 1 in the manner previously described.

Fig. 17 shows the right hand mounting clip inserted with both shoes in appropriate apertures and the left hand mounting clip is shown inserted on one side only, the other shoe being ready for insertion. Fig. 17 also shows that one shoe of each mounting clip engages a connected aperture and the other a free aperture. For this reason, one half of the mounting clip is preferably coated with insulating lacquer so that it can be safely inserted even if there is current.

Pad 99 which is fixedly held permits the shoes to protrude beyond the rim of the wall apertures when the mounting clips are flattened by the insertion of the locking slides, or in other words, to move between contact washers 93 and the adjacent material of pad 90 at recesses 91 and 92.

As is apparent, the mounting clips are connected through their shoes to wire 94.

tween the panel and the receptacle. receptacle pushed home.

9 The receptacle comprises a casing in in which are mounted the female Contact elements of the receptacle in a conventional manner. The contact elements are shown as being of the round type, but fiat contact elements may also be provided. The contact elements in the receptacle are connected to locking slides 103 for coaction with the mounting clips 10 now assembled on panel 1. The locking slides, when inserted in the mounting clips, will flatten the latter as previously described thereby locking the receptacle casing 101 to panel 1 and at the same time connecting the contact elements to wires 94. A rubber edging 1.02 is compressed during the insertion of the receptacle and closes the gap be- Fig. 17a shows the Fig. 17 also shows a tongue 10% which engages washer 100 or the head of screw 96 when the casing is pushed home. This tongue 164 can be used as a grounding contact if appropriately connected to contact elements in the third holes shown at the top of the receptacle casing; The. top of the receptacle finally shows a cover or casing screw 105.

Finally,.Figs. 18 and 19 show a pro-wired perforated panel 106 made of insulation material. Contact strips 10.7 are adhered to the rear side of the panel. in alignment with the apertures thereof and perforated in registry with the panel apertures. Contact strips 107 may be adhered to panel 1% by any suitable means, for instance by bonding during the manufacturing process. Foil backed laminated material may be used from which the excess material is removed by any of the known printed circuit techniques. In this connection, it may be mentioned that the circuit pattern represented by the parallel strips of Fig. 18 may be a more complex one. A pre-wired panel such as shown in Fig. 18 may be used for attaching to the front sides thereof receptacles of the kind shown in Figs. 17 and 17a in a more simplified manner. The pad of Fig. 14 may be omitted and the mounting clips 10 may be inserted directly in the apertures of the panel so that they will engage strips 197 with their shoes as is shown in Fig. 19.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. A support structure for releasable attachment to perforated material, comprising an elongated transversely curved mounting member, two locking elements depending from the concave side of said member spaced in the direction of the curvature thereof by a distance corresponding to the spacing of two perforations in the material, each of said locking elements fitting in one of said perforations, retaining means on the convex side of said curved mounting member located on both sides of the apex of the curvature thereof and including a keying portion, and an elongated locking member insertable in said retaining, means from one end thereof longitudinally of the curvature of said mounting member and across the apex thereof, said locking member being curved about a transverse line, the curvature of the locking member being convex in reference to the convex side of the mounting member in a superimposed position of the mounting member and the locking member to force, upon insertion of the locking member in said retaining means, the. curved mounting member into a less curved position and retaining the same in said position thereby increasing the spatial distance between said locking elements to lock the same in said two perforations and exerting an upward pull upon the ends of the mounting member.

2. A support structure for releasable attachment to perforated sheet material, comprising a flexible transversely curved mounting strip, a pair of locking elements depending from the concave side of said strip in longitudinally spaced relationship, said locking elements fitting the spacing between the two perforations of said sheet material, retaining means on the convex side of said strip defining a curved guide path substantially matching the convex curvature of the strip and extending across the apex thereof, and an elongated locking member at least equal to the length of the guide path and insertable in said guide path from one end thereof, said locking member being curved about a transverse line, the curvature of the locking member being convex in reference to the convex side of the mounting strip in a superimposed position of the mounting strip and the locking member, to force, upon insertion of the locking member in said curved guide path, the strip into a less curved configuration thereby exerting an upward pull upon the ends of the mounting strip and increasing the spatial distance between said locking elements, said increase lockingthe locking elements in said perforations of the sheet material.

3. A support structure for releasable attachment to perforated sheet material, comprising a transversely curved mounting strip, a pair of locking shoes depending from the concave side of the strip in longitudinally spaced relationship, each of said shoes having a depending leg portion and a terminal portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip, said two terminal portions facing in opposite direction and being insertable in two apertures in said sheet material in a curved condition of the strip, retaining means on the convex side of the strip defining a curved guide path substantially matching the convex curvature of the strip and extending across the apex thereof, and an elongated locking member having a length at least equal to that of the guide path and insertable in said guide path from one end thereof, said locking member being curved about a transverse line, the curvature of the locking member being convex in reference to the convex side of the mounting strip in a superimposed position of the mounting strip and the locking member to force, upon insertion of the locking member in said guide path, the mid portion of said strip downwardly thereby exerting an upward pull upon the end of the mounting strip and increasing the spatial distance between said shoes, said increase causing said terminal shoe portions to extend beyond the perimeter of the respective apertures, thereby locking the strip to the sheet material and frictionally retaining the locking member in the retaining means.

4. A support structure for releasable-attachment to perforated sheet material comprising a transversely curved springy mounting strip, a pair of locking shoes depending from the concave side of the strip, each of said shoes being in the form of a depending L-element, the lateral branches of the elements extending in opposite direction, said shoes being longitudinally spaced to fit two apertures of said sheet material, retaining means on the convex side of the strip forming a longitudinal guide path substantially following the convex curvature of the strip and extending across the apex thereof, and an elongated locking member having a length at least equal to that of the guide path and insertable in said guide path from one end thereof, said locking member being curved about a transverse line, the curvature of the locking member being convex in reference to the convex side of the mounting strip in a superimposed position of the mounting strip and the locking member to force, upon insertion of said locking member in said guide path, the mid portion of said strip downwardly thereby exerting an upward pull upon the ends of the strip and increasing the spatial distance between said 11 shoes, said increase causing said lateral branches to protrude beyond the perimeter of the respective apertures whereby the mounting strip is locked to the sheet material and the locking member is frictionally retained in teh retaining means.

5. A support structure according to claim 4 wherein said apertures in the sheet material are circular and the depending branches of said locking elements have a correspondingly rounded cross section, the concave sides of said branches facing each other.

6. A support structure according to claim 4 wherein said retaining means comprise longitudinally extended guide channels substantially matching the curvature of said strip.

7. A support structure according to claim 6 wherein said guide channels are formed by two laterally spaced tracks.

8. A support structure according to claim 7 wherein said tracks comprise two longitudinally spaced sections.

9. A support structure for releasable attachment to perforated material comprising a flexible transversely curved mounting strip, a pair of locking elements depending from the concave side of said strip in longitudinally spaced relationship, said locking elements fitting the spacing between two perforations of said material, retaining means on the convex side of said strip defining a curved longitudinally elongated guide path substantially matching the curvature of the strip and extending across the apex thereof, and a locking slide having an elongated locking portion of a length at least equal to that of the guide path and insertable in the guide path from one end thereof, said locking portion being curved about a transverse line, the curvature of the locking portion being convex in reference to the convex side of the mounting strip in a s perimposed position of the mounting strip and the locking portion whereby upon insertion of the locking portion in said curved guide path, the mid portion of the strip is forced into a less curved configuration thereby pulling up the ends of the strip and increasing the spatial distance between said locking ele ments, said increase locking the locking elements in said perforations of the material.

10. A support structure for releasable attachment to perforated sheet material, comprising a transversely curved mounting strip, a pair of locking shoes depending from the concave side of the strip in longitudinally spaced relationship, each of said shoes having a depending leg portion and a terminal portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip, said two terminal portions facing in opposite direction and fitting in two apertures in said sheet material in a curved condition of the strip, retaining means on the convex side of said strip in the form of two pairs of longitudinally spaced guide tracks disposed on opposite sides of the apex of the strip, and a locking slide having a locking portion insertable in said retaining means to bridge said pairs of tracks, said locking portion being curved about a transverse line, the curvature of the locking portion being convex in reference to the convex side of the mounting strip in a superimposed position of the mounting strip and the locking portion whereby insertion of the locking portion in said retaining means, forces the mid portion of said strip into a less curved configuration thereby pulling up the ends of the strip and increasing the spatial distance between said shoes, said increase causing said terminal shoe portions to occupy positions underlying the rims of the respective apertures thereby locking the strip to the sheet material and frictionally retaining the locking portion in said retaining means.

11. A support structure according to claim 9 wherein said curved locking portion includes means engageable with said mounting member to prevent longitudinal pivoting of the locking slide relative to the mounting strip.

12. A support structure according to claim 11 wherein said curved locking portion has lateral protrusions resting upon the mounting strip when the locking portion is inserted in said retaining means.

13. A support structure according to claim 12 wherein said curved locking portion has a generally T-shaped cross section, the cross arm of the locking portion being engageable with the mounting strip.

' 14. A support structure according to claim 11 wherein said locking portion is in the form of a flat strip curved about a transverse line.

15. A support structure according to claim 14 wherein the curvature in said locking portion is formed by a kink in about the middle of said portion.

16. A support structure according to claim 9 wherein said locking slide comprises an article supporting portion, said supporting portion extending from at least one end of the locking portion.

17. An article supporting structure comprising, in com bination, a mounting board having on one side a continuous surface and on the other side several spaced apart apertures, a transversely curved mounting strip, a pair of locking shoes on the concave side of the strip in longitudinally spaced relationship, each of said shoes having a depending leg portion and a terminal portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip. said terminal portions facing in opposite direction and being insertable in two of said several apertures in a curved condition of the strip, retaining means on the convex side of the strip defining a curved guide path substantially matching the convex curvature of the strip and extending across the apex thereof, and a locking member having a length at least equal to that of the guide path and insertable in said guide path from one end thereof, said locking member being curved about a transverse line, the curvature of the locking member being convex in reference to the convex side of the mounting strip in a superimposed position of the mounting strip and the locking member, insertion of the locking member in said guide path forcing the mid portion of said strip into a more flattened configuration thereby pulling upwardly the ends of the strip and increasing the spatial distance between said shoes, said increase causing said terminal shoe portions to protrude beyond the peripheral outline of the respective apertures thereby locking the strip to the mounting board and frictionally retaining the locking member in the retaining means. I

18. A locking slide for an article supporting structure including a mounting strip curved about a transverse line and having retaining means thereon and releasably at tachable to perforated material, said locking slide comprising a substantially straight locking portion curved opposite to the curvature of the mounting strip about a transverse line and insertable in said retaining means on the mounting strip and an article supporting portion.

19. A locking slide for an article supporting structure including a mounting strip curved about a transverse line and having retaining means thereon and releasably attachable to perforated material, said locking slide comprising a substantially straight elongated locking portion curved opposite to the curvature of the mounting strip about a transverse line and engageable with the retaining means on the mounting strip of the support structure, and an article supporting portion, said locking portion having a longitudinally extending plane surface.

20. A locking slide for an article supporting structure including a mounting strip curved about a transverse line and having retaining means thereon and releasably attachable to perforated material, said locking slide com"- prising an elongated locking portion curved opposite to the curvature of the mounting strip about a transverse line and engageable with the retaining means on the mounting strip of the support structure and an article supporting portion, said locking portion having lateral extensions.

21. A locking slide for an article supporting structure including a mounting strip having retaining means there on and releasably attachable to perforated material, said locking slide comprising an elongated locking portion curved about a transverse line.

22. A locking slide according to claim 21 wherein said locking portion includes a bend substantially in its middle to define an obtuse angle by the parts of the portion extending from said bend.

23. An assembly for releasably mounting an electric receptacle on perforated sheet material, said assembly comprising, in combination, a flexible, metallic mounting strip curved about a transverse line, a pair of metallic locking elements depending from the concave side of said strip in longitudinally spaced relationship, said locking elements fitting the spacing between two perforations of said sheet material, retaining means on the convex side of said strip, means for connecting said mounting strip through one of its locking elements to an electric wire conductor, a casing for pole elements of the receptacle, a locking slide secured to said casing, said slide including a locking portion insertable in said retaining means, said locking portion having a configuration in reference to the mounting strip such that insertion of said portion in the retaining means forces said curved strip into a more flattened configuration thereby correspondingly elongating the spatial distance between said locking elements, said elongation locking the locking elements in said two perforations in the sheet material, said locking slide being connectable to the contact elements in said receptacle casing.

24. An assembly according to claim 23 wherein said means for connecting the mounting strip to a wire conductor comprise a contact pad including at least one recess in a surface thereof, an apertured contact means inserted in said recess, and means for attaching the contact pad to the sheet material with said apertured contact means in registry with one of the apertures in the sheet material for insertion of one of said locking elements of the mounting strip in said sheet material aperture and said apertured contact means in registry.

25. An assembly according to claim 24 and also comprising means for securing said pad to one side of the sheet material at a point spaced apart from said contact means, said securing means being visible on the other side of the sheet material to indicate the location of, the pad on the sheet material.

26. An assembly according to claim 23 wherein a conductive strip including at least one perforation is adhered to one side of said sheet material, the perforation of said conductive strip being in registry with one of the apertures of the sheet material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,534,088 Shaw Apr. 21, 1925 1,961,578 Bowers June 5, 1934 2,580,849 Schwartz Jan. 1, 1952 2,817,131 Seegers Dec. 24, 1957 

